THE DOLL

'"The Doll"' is the 127th episode of NBC sitcom ''Seinfeld''. This was the 17th episode for the 7th season. It aired on February 22, 1996. "The Doll" is also the name of the 17th episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" starring Larry David, the co-creator of Seinfeld.

Contents

Plot

Trivia

Plot

While performing in Memphis, Jerry meets Susan's old roommate, Sally Weaver (played by Kathy Griffin), who gives him a package that she wants him to deliver to the soon-to-be-married George and Susan, telling him to be careful with it. While on the plane, Jerry, because he has to be careful with the package, is forced to put his own bag in the overhead compartment and, in the process, a bottle of barbecue sauce in his bag is broken. Upon his arrival in New York, Jerry reveals to his friends that the bottle was decorated with a picture of a man who looked like Charles Grodin, on whose television show he would be appearing, and that he had planned to present Grodin with the bottle on the show. He also gives George the "delicate" package, which turns out to be a welcome mat. Meanwhile, Frank Costanza turns George's old bedroom into a billiard room and Kramer challenges him to a game of billiards, only to discover that the space is a bit tight. At the Costanza/Ross residence, Susan unpacks her doll collection, including one that looks exactly like George's mother. While Susan denies the resemblance, George struggles with the image of his mother and eventually begins to imagine it talking to him.
Also, Elaine returns from Tuscany with "the Maestro", trying to replace an autographed picture of "the other guy," his favorite of the Three Tenors, that was damaged while they were in Tuscany. She discovers that he will be appearing on "The Charles Grodin Show" and decides to accompany Jerry to the show. While in the dressing room, with nothing to say on the show, Jerry has an idea: have George bring a picture of Estelle, along with the doll. Unfortunately, the only person at home when he calls is Sally, who is visiting Susan in New York. She agrees to bring the doll, but arrives shortly thereafter with the wrong doll, saying it is much funnier. Jerry receives his cue to go on stage, with no material. Later, Frank stops by George's place to show him a picture of a man in Tuscany he believes to be his cousin. When Frank sees the doll, he begins to hear his wife's voice and goes crazy, beheading the doll and leaving George saying, "I told you it looked like her."

Trivia

★ The working title for this episode was "The Doormat." Originally, the doormat that George receives from Sally was to play a larger part in this episode's plot, but as the script was rewritten, the focus changed to Susan's doll collection, and the episode was renamed accordingly.

★ The classical piece that is played during the no-pants-billards scene is Piano Concerto No. 1 (Tchaikovsky)

★ Events on the set of this episode led to stories in Kathy Griffin's stand-up routine about Jerry Seinfeld being hard to work with. This conflict led to Sally Weaver's second appearance on ''Seinfeld,'' "The Cartoon," in which Jerry learns that Sally has become a comedian whose act is based around defaming him.

★ Frank Costanza's supposed Italian cousin Carlo is seen sweeping the sidewalk outside a store emblazoned with the sign "Costanza Import/Export." George's favorite alias, Art Vandelay, is an importer/exporter.